Buddy's January Cinema VisitsBrokeback Mountain (9/10) Where The Truth Lies (8/10) The Libertine (5/10) The Producers (2005) (7/10) Alien (70mm Print) (10/10) Match Point (8/10) Underworld: Evolution (6/10) Lower City (5/10) Godzilla (1954) (8/10) Fun With Dick & Jane (7/10) Jarhead (8/10) Memoirs of a Geisha (6/10) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (7/10) King Kong (2005) (9/10) Creature From The Black Lagoon (3-D) (7/10) Rumour Has It (5/10) Factotum (7/10) Total Visits: 17 Compared to 7 in January 2005And film of the month is...Brokeback Mountain (9/10) which just about managed to justify the awards being thrown at it, although I'm still kicking myself for having not yet managed Munich.

Buddy's February Cinema Visits King Kong (1933) (10/10) Walk The Line (7/10) Final Destination 3 (6/10) Munich (9/10) Zathura (7/10) A Cock and Bull Story (7/10) Derailed (6/10) Good Night and Good Luck (8/10) Lucky Number Slevin (6/10) Total Visits: 9 Compared to 16 in February 2005And film of the month is... Munich (9/10) another superb and challenging film from Spielberg - dark, relentless and serious on its subject matter it might sadly remain one of his curiousities in years to come, but it's award nominations are easily justified.

Buddy's March Cinema Visits Lawrence of Arabia (70mm) (10/10) The Matador (7/10) Syriana (7/10) Capote (7/10) The Road To Guantánamo (8/10) The Hills Have Eyes (6/10) The Pink Panther (2006) (6/10) V For Vendetta (9/10) Inside Man (7/10) Grizzly Man (8/10) The Proposition (7/10) Total Visits: 11 Compared to 12 in March 2005And film of the month is... V For Vendetta (9/10), a brilliant adaptation which takes liberties with the plot of the original story (especially the last third) but creates its own animal from it whilst managing to remain faithful to the spirit, tone and characters of the graphic novel. The domino montage is one of the best pieces of cinema so far this year and Hugo Weaving's performance behind the mask is excellent.

Buddy's April Cinema Visits Basic Instinct 2 (2/10) Hostel (6/10) Ice Age: The Meltdown (5/10) Scary Movie 4 (6/10) Transamerica (7/10) The New World (5/10) American Dreamz (5/10) Silent Hill (5/10) The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (8/10) Total Visits: 9 Compared to 14 in April 2005And film of the month is... The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (8/10), which was a much stronger, much more assured film than the similar The Proposition with a first half filled with subtle energy and nicely-handled timeline fiddling. But, this and Transamerica aside, it's been a very, very average month.

Buddy's May Cinema Visits 16 Blocks (6/10) Slither (7/10) Pierrepoint (6/10) Junebug (8/10) Vertigo (9/10) The Squid and the Whale (7/10) Mission: Impossible III (6/10) Confetti (5/10) The Da Vinci Code (4/10) Brick (8/10) The King (6/10) X-Men: The Last Stand (6/10) Total Visits: 12 Compared to 8 in May 2005And film of the month is... Brick (8/10), perhaps not quite the next Donnie Darko but a very well done indie film with some superb performances and a very slick and assured style of it's own. Other than that the first three big hitters of the summer have all disappointed, with Da Vinci Code turning out to be just quite dull really, and M:I:III and X3 having enough good moments to make them fun but pretty dreadful scripts and anything resembling a character moment in each seemed misjudged.

Buddy's June Cinema Visits Poseidon (7/10) The Benchwarmers (5/10) Down in the Valley (6/10) RV: Runaway Vacation (7/10) United 93 (10/10) The Omen (4/10) Hard Candy (8/10) The Wild (5/10) Thank You For Smoking (7/10) The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (5/10) Over The Hedge (6/10) Aquamarine (5/10) Total Visits: 12 Compared to 7 in June 2005And film of the month is... United 93 (10/10), the first film I've given full marks to since The Incredibles way back in November 2004, although the similarities between the two end there. A stunning film in its harrowing depiction, managing to fully convey the terror, confusion, fear and, above all else, tragedy of the day without ever resorting to exploitation or cheap dramatic tactics. Too soon? Just timed perfectly - 9/11 has become a buzzword, a slogan, a catchphrase over the past five years. Being as the anniversary is coming up we need to be reminded that, despite everything that's happened since and despite all the 'God Bless America' bumper stickers that the day spawned, a very terrible event happened that morning, and it affected real people. One hell of a film.

And, at the half-way point of the year, I'm beating my cinema visits this time last year by six, and I haven't seen a single film more than once. Which hasn't been deliberate but it's going to be hard to top next year.

Buddy's July Cinema Visits Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (7/10) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (8/10) Superman Returns (8/10) Stormbreaker (7/10) The Break-Up (5/10) Superman Returns: IMAX 3D (9/10) Total Visits: 6 Compared to 4 in July 2005And film of the month is... Superman Returns (8/10), which suffers from the same problems as Pirates in being too long and not having enough plain fun moments but beats it by having more meat to it and some genuinely stunning moments, along with a brilliant turn by Brandon Routh. And seeing it in IMAX 3D was a great experience.

Buddy's August Cinema Visits Miami Vice (6/10) Cars (8/10) Nacho Libre (7/10) Little Fish (6/10) Lady in the Water (7/10) Snakes on a Plane (7/10) Harsh Times (7/10) The Princess Bride (10/10) Monster House (9/10) A Scanner Darkly (7/10) Severance (6/10) Volver (7/10) You, Me and Dupree (5/10) Total Visits: 13 Compared to 8 in August 2005And film of the month is... Monster House (9/10), which is a film I really didn't have any expectations for - and, to be honest, the marketing left me cold. But the sheer brilliance of the storytelling, the genuine characters and the amount of seriously scary and horrible things they managed to get away with in a PG impressed me completely and utterly. Best animated film of the year - and I really, really liked Cars.

Buddy's September Cinema VisitsThe Sentinel (5/10) Crank (9/10) Adrift (7/10) The Wicker Man (4/10) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (70mm Screening) (9/10) Right at Your Door (7/10) Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (7/10) Little Miss Sunshine (9/10)- neck and neck with number of films seen in 2005 The Black Dahlia (7/10) The Queen (7/10) DOA: Dead or Alive (3/10) The Notorious Bettie Page (6/10) Children of Men (9/10) The Night Listener (6/10) Hoodwinked! (6/10) Clerks II (9/10) - neck and neck with number of cinema visits in 2005 The Black Dahlia (7/10) Little Miss Sunishine (9/10) Total Visits: 18 Compared to 6 in September 2005And film of the month is... Little Miss Sunshine (9/10), and it was a hell of a tough choice between that and Children of Men (and Clerks II, for that matter). Whilst Children of Men was incredible, especially in terms of the direction and technical feats achieved, Little Miss Sunshine just grabbed me right from its first second - both heartbreaking and hilarious. Both are amongst the best films of the year but Little Miss Sunshine just about wins as my personal favourite out of the two.

Buddy's October Cinema Visits The Devil Wears Prada (7/10) Little Miss Sunshine (9/10) Clerks II (9/10) - hit my target cinema visits for 2006Top Gun (7/10) Tideland (6/10) The Departed (9/10) Click (6/10) The History Boys (6/10) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (4/10) Open Season (4/10) World Trade Center (6/10) The Grudge 2 (5/10) The Last Kiss (7/10) Marie Antoinette (6/10) Gremlins (10/10) Total Visits: 15 Compared to 7 in October 2005And film of the month is... The Departed (9/10), a fantastic remake that does justice to the original and makes the story its own (without ever betraying Infrenal Affairs) - proves that sometimes Americanized remakes can be worthwhile. Great directing, music and acting, especially from Jack Nicholson and Mark Whalberg.

Buddy's November Cinema Visits Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Khazakhstan (8/10) Little Children (7/10) Casino Royale (8/10) The Prestige (8/10) Saw III (4/10) Breaking and Entering (5/10) The Goonies (8/10) Total Visits: 7 Compared to 12 in November 2005And film of the month is... Casino Royale (8/10), which is good because I've been as excited as hell since Daniel Craig was named Bond and the fact the naysayers are now seeing how good he is as an actor and as the character is brilliant. A great Bond film at least on a par with GoldenEye (but probably my favoruite out of the two) and an exciting reboot to the series (I can't wait for the next one and I've never left a Bond film feeling that). And the title music and credits may have split people but for me they are only beaten by Superman Return's credits in terms are greatness this year - and that onyl won because of the iconic theme.

Buddy's December Cinema Visits Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D (8/10) Happy Feet (7/10) Casino Royale (8/10) Pan's Labyrinth (8/10) Eragon (2/10) Flushed Away (7/10) Total Visits: 6 Compared to 4 in December 2005And film of the month is... Pan's Labyrinth (8/10), which was fantastically moody, dark and haunting. The two plots complimented each other perfectly and were engrossing for their own reasons (I was worried the non-fantasy plot would be lacklusture in comparison but the characters worked just as well) and there's some amazing set and creature designs.

Total Cinema Visits In 2006: 135 Target Cinema Visits For 2006: 110 Total Films Seen In 2006: 130

Buddy's Top Thirty Favourites of 2007

United 93

Little Miss Sunshine

Munich

Children of Men

V For Vendetta

Clerks II

Casino Royale

Monster House

Grizzly Man

The Departed

Crank

Match Point

Pan's Labyrinth

The Prestige

Good Night, and Good Luck

Superman Returns

Cars

Jarhead

Brokeback Mountain

Borat

Slither

Hard Candy

Stormbreaker

Brick

Where the Truth Lies

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

The Queen

Junebug

Poseidon

And the Worst

Basic Instinct 2

Eragon

Open Season

The Wicker Man

You, Me and Dupree

DOA: Dead or Alive

The Wild

American Dreamz

Rumor Has It

The Break-Up

Smilie Code: - I enjoyed it more than I thought I would - I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would - Prettymuch as I expected, whether good or bad

Disclaimer - all ratings are based on my initial feelings after seeing the film. Ratings, like mortgages, may go up or down.

< Message edited by Buddy Ackerman -- 17/1/2007 12:54:07 AM >

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"If you were in my toilet bowl, I wouldn't bother flushing it. My bathmat means more to me than you!"

Total Number Of Visits To The Cinema In 2004 109 Total Number Of Different Films Seen At The Cinema In 2004 88 Total Number Of Visits To The Cinema In 2005 218Total Number Of Different Films Seen At The Cinema In 2005200 Total Number Of Films Seen At Home In 2005 131 Total Number Of Previously Unseen Films Seen At Home In 200578Total Number Of Different Films Seen At Home In 2005 123*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*.-*Total Number Of Visits To The Cinema In 2006 6Total Number Of Different Films Seen At The Cinema In 2006 6Total Number Of Films Seen At Home In 2006 8Total Number Of Previously Unseen Films Seen At Home In 2006 0Total Number Of Different Films Seen At Home In 2006 8Film Of The Year 2004: Spider-Man 2 Film Of The Year 2005:In My Father's Den Film Of The Year 2006: Current Contenders JarheadBrokeback MountainMunich Films I'm Looking Forward To Inspired By One Or More Of The Following:Hype, Trailers, Articles And/Or Source MaterialCarsGhost RiderIce Age II: The MeltdownPirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestShopgirlSuper Ex-GirlfriendSyrianaTenacious D In The Pick Of DestinyThe Da Vinci CodeThe MatadorV For VendettaX-Men IIIJanuary Brokeback Mountain (HLS) Where The Truth Lies (HLS) Jarhead (VUEP) The Libertine (HLS) Just Friends (UGCS) Memoirs Of A Geisha (UGCS) Munich (OS) Lower City (HLS) Match Point (HLS) Fun With Dick & Jane (UGCS) Rumour Has It (UGCS) Factotum - Sunday 29th (HLS)Everything Is Illuminated - Monday 30th (HLS)Film Of The Month

FebruaryWalk The Line - Saturday 4th (HLS)Goodnight, And Good Luck - Sunday 5th (HLS)A Cock And Bull Story - Saturday 10th (HLS)Film Of The Month

JANMatch Point - I am a fan of Woody Allen so I was expecting to enjoy this film, and I did, but it certainly wasn't what I expected. I am just so used to his character studies that I was a little thrown when he included in this one a rather odd murder mystery plot. I am really not sure about the acting in it either, was it wooden or is that actally how British upper class twits are perceived? I think this film was a little weak for Allen and I long for the return of the quick wit and beauty that was so apparent in his earlier films. Having said that, his observations never fail to hit the mark.

The Beat That My Heart Skipped - Absolutely nothing like I imagined it would be given the romantic connotations of the title. Having said that, there is something quite beautiful about the scenes in which the lead character, Thomas Seyr, is alone in his flat trying to play the piano like he once did before the death of his concert pianist mother. I found this film at times quite tense to watch and I really didn't have clue where they were going to take it in terms of plot, which can only be a good thing. The performance by Romain Duris as Tom was magnificant and is the main reason why I enjoyed this film so much. In brief, a really really lovely film with some very stark moments and a simply wonderful score.

A Cock and Bull Story - Ultimately disappointing, Rob Brydon's impressions were the sparse highlights in what was a very slow film that had an odd documentary feel to it.

Brokeback Mountain - Beautiful scenery, great performaces by the two leads, and a simple love story with complex undertones told through actions rather than words. Lovely but not perfect.

FEB

Walk the Line - Absolutely loved this film. This kind of love will win out against drugs, booze and fame story is one that we have all heard before but the fantastic performances from Witherspoon and Phoenix and the enoyablility of Cash's music lift it to another level and make it a delight for the eyes and ears. (even better on second viewing, and third ahem)

Vertigo (1958) special screening - always a pleasure to watch a Hitchcock film, but this much loved outing still doesn't quite hit the mark for me as much as some of his other films. Fantastic performances by both James Stewart and Kim Novak though.

Rumour Has It - Suprisingly enjoyable. Shirley Maclaine has most of the best lines in what is a slightly above average rom com.

Munich - Very involving performance from Eric Bana but overall the film lacked something, just not sure what... (plus, I have no idea how much of what was portrayed is true).

Good Night and Good Luck - Unfortunately I was very tired when I went to see this film so my attention wasn't very focused and ultimately I have come away with a somewhat blurred view. I think it is more the kind of film I would watch on TV than see on the big screen, interesting though.

MAR

Syriana - Like with Goodnight and Good Luck and Munich I found this film interesting but it didn't tell enough to leave me satisfied when the credits rolled.

March of the Penguins - A charmingly simple documentary film charting the lifes journey of the penguins as they battle to survive the elements in the most climatically harsh place to live in the world. Beautifully filmed it is involving but not imposing, the real life characters are endearing beyond words and their journey is one that was worth capturing and laying forth on the big screen.

Grizzly Man - This documentary charters the life and death of Timothy Treadwell whilst he studied the Grizzly Bears in Alaska. I don't quite understand what he actually did to protect the bears and certainly it isn't made very apparent throughout the course of the film. What it comes down to is that he interferred with wild animals in their habitat, and like everyone says in the documentary, his death was his fate, and he knew it was coming and even welcomed it. I cannot ignore the passion this man had but regardless of that he really didn't seem to have much respect for the bears surroundings and the fact that wild animals and humans, for the most part, don't and shouldn't interact. This is an interesting yet unbelievable piece of filmaking with some very eccentric characters discussing a very 'on the edge' character. Most bizarre.

Future Shorts

APRIL

Three Burials - The character motivations were very weak, a couple of lack lustre scenes were not enough to create the substance and back story required to sustain or even ignite any feeling towards the characters involved in the story. Which is a shame as it was a pretty good directorial debut for Tommy Lee Jones although the cinematography wasn't as good as it clearly could or should have been. So, a decidedly average film with a lot of potential had the script been a little more thorough and the location used to its full potential.

Transamerica - A subtle road trip that displays so much about life and human emotions. The characters were all incredibly endearing and the performances seemed effortless. Touching and funny, with moments of tension and confusion, this is a truly lovely film.

Pierrepoint - good central performance from Spall in what is a very interesting story. Simply and clearly told, it isn't deep enough to be thought provoking but it is affecting enough to stay with you a little while afterwards.

Ice Age 2: The Meltdown - Lightweight and fun, just as expected. Although, the musical numbers grated a little and the female mammoth wasn't a welcome addition but other than it was enjoyable enough.

Slither - Easy watching but with more than an edge of oddness. The characters were unoriginal but didn't annoy, the effects were fondly reminiscent of Tremors and my overall feeling is one of much needed satisfaction. Sometimes you just need a break from arthouse, foreign and blockbuster films.

MAY

C.R.A.Z.Y - This is easily one of the most enjoyable films I have seen this year, both deeply touching without being sentimental and laugh out loud funny without making light of teenage angst and parental strife. Both Zac (Marc-Andre Grondin) and his father (Michael Cotés) give stand out performances whilst the rest of the cast, no matter how minor the role, are also given a great sense of depth. Beautifully written, vibrant in both music and visuals and compassionately directed. CRAZY is one film I would highly recommend.

The Proposition - A slightly unusual story of justice and vengeance set in Australia. Guy Pearce gives yet another solid performance as does Ray Winstone but sadly the somewhat graphic violence used has overshadowed my enjoyment.

The Squid and the Whale - didn't like this film nearly as much as I thought I would. Sure it has an open ending, which echoes what I can only imagine is the endless turmoil of divorce and it is unflinching in its portrayal of a family going through changes both as a whole and individually, but I just didn't think there was anything too startling about the way it was played out. It was a nice film but nothing much more than that in my opinion, great to see Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels get some decent air time though.

La Grande Illusion (1937) special screening - a liberal take on the First World War with some surprisingly witty moments.

La Regle Du Jeu (1939) special screening - On the surface this is a farce, a tragi-comedy. Peel back a layer and you can uncover a very sophisticated social commentary of the middle classes, told with wit through the actions of some very desperate characters.

Brick - I really enjoyed this film, certainly the best modern take on the old noir films that I have ever seen. The dialogue is a little difficult to grasp in places but it really doesn't matter because the style of the film and the strength of the characters are more than enough to pull it through with great success. It is a good versus evil tale but with one hell of a grey area in between. Don't puzzle over the intricate details too much or strain to hear every word and you will find this a highly enjoyable and atmospheric murder mystery.

The Child - this film seemed decent enough but I struggled to stay awake, whether it was tiredness or lack of interaction with film I can't be sure.

United 93 - really wish I hadn't seen this. I wasn't intending to but let myself be talked in to it. I really don't see the need to have made this film.

JULYPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - highly enoyable and left me very eager to see the third installment.

Cave of the Yellow Dog - plesasant enough but incredibly slow paced and a little lacklustre in story for my liking.

AUG

Nacho Libre - a fantastically bizzarre idea for a film but Jack Black's persona wasn't quite enough to pull this film thorugh and the pacing was a little slow for my tastes. Heading South - Upon reading the blurb in my local cinema's programme my interest was picqued and the inclusion of Charlotte Rampling was certainly a plus. However, I agree with Empire's comments that this film fails to hit the mark.

Volver - This was a nice film, pleasantly paced and neatly wrapped up in the end. There is touches of comedy but mostly this is a film of deeper and more painful emotions, all of which are displayed perfectly well by the cast. It didn't live up to the hype and wouldn't stand up to repeat viewings but it was good enough.

SEPT

Snakes on a Plane - Took itself slightly more seriously than I expected (apart from the opening few deaths) but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Overall, very enjoyable.

< Message edited by Shawlord -- 16/9/2006 10:55:09 PM >

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The World is a fine place, and worth fighting for... I agree with the second part.

Just Friends March of the Penguins Brokeback Mountain Where The Truth Lies King Kong (2005) Breakfast on Pluto Memoirs of a Geisha Alien (1979) Underworld: Evolution Match Point Godzilla (1954) Fun with Dick and Jane Lower City Walk the Line Everything is Illuminated Factotum (A Man Who Performs Many Jobs) Me, You, Them (2000) The Creature from the Black Lagoon (in 3D) (1954) Rumour Has It.... Good Night, and Good Luck King Kong (1933) A Cock and Bull Story Casanova Thumbsucker Munich Proof Date MovieSyrianaHello all - back again

JANUARY 6th -- Match point - Some may consider the "twist" to be an act of cinematic masterwork, but I saw it as a turning point, it made a boring, uninvolving film, into a confusing, farfetched pointless one, if that was your goal Mr Allen, I salute you! And don't get me started on the slow-mo ring rebound thing, just like a tennis match, of course! (4/10) 15th -- Brokeback mountainFinnaly the year is kicking off! Excellent film, superb directing by Lee, and the actors were amazing also, expecially Heath Ledger. The subject matter may be very off putting to some, but give it a chance, its a fantastic film that should be seen by everyone. (9/10) 16th -- JarheadReally this is two films, the first half a good training, messin about movie. The second half a boring, tedious and utterly pointless mess. The directing and cinematography is excellent, as is most of the acting, but all that gloss cant hide the boredom. Never has a tagline been so apt... "Welcome to the SUCK" (5/10) 17th -- Sympathy for lady vengeanceThis suffers from the classic "too much style, not enough substance". It really doesnt kick off until over an hour but when it does its fantastic. When compared to OldBoy its very dire, but on it's own its passable entertainment. Dissapointed (6/10) 19th -- MunichFantastically gripping. Very violent, but that only adds to the intensity of the film. Its emotionally involving and will have you on the edge of your seat, well, at least the first 2 hours will, after that you'll be very bored, the only problem is that Spielberg doesn't know how to end it. Acting is superb, but the story can be a tad confusing at times. (7/10)26th -- Memoirs of a GeishaBrilliant direction and a Stunning pallet almost make up for the tedium towards the end of the film, but up until the snow dance the film is very good. Its just a shame that it goes down a very steep hill after that,even if it is a very good looking hill. (7/10) 26th -- March of the PenguinsAn Amazing documentary. Beautifully shot and with an army of brilliant performances . The narration is perfect, and the film carries a suprisingly significant emotional punch. And dont get me started on that BASTARD BIRD! (8/10) 27th -- Underwolrld : EvolutionAs a fan of the original film I was extremely dissapointed with this. A very confusing story, that seemed to go nowhere through the entire film. Just a constant flow of boring action scenes that were full of gratuatous violence, its not all bad though, the suit was good. (4/10) 30th -- A cock and Bull storyA very entertaining film, but only funny in the clearly improvised scenes. Some scenes will remain the funniest of the year, "I dont speak like this, yes I do", and the womb scene being highlights. Maybe it would have found a better audience on TV though. (7/10)FILM OF THE MONTH : BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

FEBUARY6th -- Walk the lineBoy, this biopic formula is getting old. This film has a very repetetive narrative structure - "5 mins perormance, 5 mins drama, 5 mins performance..." etc. The acting though was excellent, particularly by Reese Witherspoon, and although overlong, the story didnt once grind to a halt. (6/10) 12th -- Final Destination 3A very entertaining film, especially if you like seeing people getting decapatated, burnt to a crisp etc. The roller coaster opening is exciting, even if the cgi is really bad! But you do find yourselves saying "skip to the death" at the 'lets look at random pictures and find out whos going to die next' scenes! (5/10)15th -- Chicken LittleA good premise is spoilt by manic, fast, over the top action. It gets very confused, is it a scifi adventure or a family drama? Disney really need Pixar. (5/10)27th -- Date MovieOne of the worst films I have ever seen. Making comedies out of comedies just doesn't work, especially when the exact same jokes are used. The best bit was the mr and mrs smith parody, which in fact looks like it was directly cut from the mr and mrs smith script. Truly awful (1/10)FILM OF THE MONTH : WALK THE LINE (in a very dissapointing month)

MARCH1st -- Lucky Number SlevinI found this to be very frustrating at the start, mostly due to the "lets keep the story twisting and leave everything until the end". But after the initial frustration i found the film to be hugley enjoyable, plus theres a handfull of very good performances in there. (7/10) 5th -- Syriana Some interesting topics and good performances were let down by a jumbled structure that doesnt fit together until the last 10 minutes, which in fact, is excellent. There are a few scenes that stand out, but for the majority of the running time, i was bored. (5/10)10th -- The Hills Have Eyes One of the best Horror films I have seen in a long time. The slow build up is perfectly balanced by the super intense first encounter with the mutants. Very gory and definatley not for the faint hearted. (8/10) 15th -- The Inside Man A dull, very very dull film. Ininvolving and completley turgig. They even threw in a blatant tasteless reference to 9/11. (3/10)17th -- HostelI really enjoyed this, in a sick kind of way. It is suprisingly slow burning, but it does make good viewing. The second best horror I've seen this month! (6/10)19th -- V for VendettaAbsolutley flawless, exceptional viewing. It balances politics and action perfectly. I can't see anything else coming out this year beating it. (9/10)27th -- MirrormaskClassic case of too much style over subsatnce, there is a story in there, even though its not a very thick one. The visuals looked good, but nothing spectacular, and seeing as though they are the things that is keeping this film afloat, that is not a very good sign. (6/10)FILM OF THE MONTH : V FOR VENDETTA (of course) APRIL1st - Ice Age : The MeltdownVery dissapointing. I love the first film and was highly anticipating this. But there was no story, the animation was boring and the jokes were stale. And the Queen Latifah possom thing is just annoying. But Scrat again steals the show, how about "Ice Age 3;He gets the nut". (5/10)16th - CapoteMy cinema finnaly started showing this over the weekend. I thought it was a very, very good film. The performace at the center is clearly the highpoint. Compelling and highly thought provoking. (8/10)19th - Scary Movie 4 There were a few funny moments in an otherwise boring film. The Million Dollar Baby spoof and the Oprah bits were funny but apart from that all I got was every character repeatadley falling over / being hit over the head etc. (4/10)24th - Silent HillAs a massive fan of the games I was hoping this would be very good, unfortunatley, it was just good. The first hour is fantastic but after that it all goes rather wrong until the end. Sean Bean once again adds more evidence to his "worst actor alive" file, giving us the worst accent of the year. One more thing, take a pillow, the offcial runtime for this film is forever. (7/10)28th - SlitherI have been looking forward to seeing this film for ages, and i am not dissapointed! It was very funny, but also really gory to make up for it! Alot of fun, but nowhere near as good as Shaun of the dead. (7/10)FILM OF THE MONTH - CAPOTEMAY7th - Mission Impossible 3Pretty much what I was expecting, a "wham bam thank ya mam" movie of the highest degree. The acting was good throughout, and apart from being over long, and having a handful of cheesy moments / lines (Humpty Dumpty???) was very very enjoyable. The best in the Franchise. (7/10)19th - The Da Vinci CodeDire, very very dire. The acting is atrocious, Tom Hanks looked bored throughout. This could be due to the fact i have read the book, but i was itching for the film to end. Rushed out too make money, and thats what it did, suprise, suprise! (3/10)28th -- X-Men the last standUltimatley, i was dissapointed with this film. I am a huge fan of parts 1 and 2, and i feel that Bryan Singers absence is extremeley apparant. There is no emotion at all, despite the fact that a number of the characters die, and its chock a block of cheesy moments and plot holes. Still as its on film its ok. (5/10)FILM OF THE MONTH : MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3 (May = Bad this year)

JUNE5th -- United 93 An excellent film, engrossing from start to finish, its the most horrific film I have seen in a long time, particularly the final 15 minutes. It feels like a documentry, and it looks amazing. Be warned, it is a harrowing experience and will get under your skin. Don't Be suprised if the tissues come out. (9/10)8th -- PoseidonAn ok film i thought, cetainly could have been a lot better, could have been alot worse aswell though. I actually felt for some of the characters, particularly the young boy, features lots of cool new ways to die! If thats a compliment! (6/10)

Rating System: I adored this film Hugely enjoyable (maybe not to everyone's taste but I liked it) Average/doesn't live up to expectations but still good fun Little to recommend it Wild horses couldn't drag me back to see this again Films I want to see: The Proposition Favela Rising Mirrormask Syrania The Squid And The Whale Cockles and Muscles Unknown White Male Paradise Now Junebug The Balland Of Jack And Rose Shooting Dogs Inside Man Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room C.R.A.Z.Y. Lemming Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price American Dreamz The King Once In A Lifetime The Devil & Daniel Johnston Thank You For Smoking 36 Hard Candy Little Fish Warrior King Stormbreaker The Science Of Sleep 11.14 A Scanner Darkly Terkel In Trouble Sisters In Law

January Brokeback Mountain 8/10 Jarhead 7/10 Munich 8/10 February Lucky Number Slevin 7/10 March The Matador 8/10 The Hills Have Eyes 6/10 V For Vendetta 6/10

April Hostel 7/10 The Ringer 4/10 May Slither 8/10 Mission: Impossible III 7/10 The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada 8/10 Good Night and Good Luck 9/10 Capote 7/10 A Cock & Bull Story 4/10 X-Men: The Last Stand 7/10

I'll take this space. Here's hoping I get to the cinema more in 2006 than I did in 2005 - I really should pluck up the courage and go on my own. Oh and I'm only listing films I go to the cinema to see.

I'm including any first time viewings (DVD, TV or cinema). My target is 183 new films (a film every other day) and the count so far is 74 in 135 days.5 - Perfect4 - Excellent 3 - Good 2 - sub-par 1 - Terrible 0 - Despicable

JanuaryNaria***Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire****Lost In Translation **Chicago *****Mary Poppins ****102 Dalmations ***Catch Me If You Can*****51st State ****Con Air ****How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days ***Kal Ho Naa Ho ****

The producers (7/10)King Kong (7/10 Down graded on second visit)Match Point (4/10)Just Friends (7/10)Brokeback Mountain (9/10)Jarhead (8/10)Fun with Dick and Jane (5/10)Solaris (2004) (7/10)A Cock and Bull Story (9/10)Munich (9/10)Memoirs of a Geisha (5/10)

Walk The Line - 9/10 -Excellent film and thoroughly enjoyed it. Night Watch - 8/10 - An innovative and fresh film from contemporary Russian Cinema.

< Message edited by emily1212 -- 9/3/2006 11:10:57 PM >

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Just the eight pints for me last night, then. Oh, no! "Team leader and boss in drunken night out." Shock! horror! Going out with Oggy tomorrow night, then. That'll be be a quiet night in at the library... not!

Jan Kong (cinema) 3/5* felt the action scenes were overlong, too much actual story was left unexplained, and in places the CGI was cringeworthy. It's a good enough story but not a patch on the originalRunning Scared (cinema) 3.5/5* - despite my fears it would be a horrid Tarintino/Richie sixth form wannabe movie, the story is clever enough to make it a very interesting watch. the last half hour was novel if more than slightly superflous, but there are enough twists and turns to keep you watching.

February Underworld: Evolution (cinema)*: 2.5/5 Though not a classic by any means, its not as bad as empire's 1* review. its watchable in a no brainer sort of way, although i thought it had better ideas that it was executed really A Cock and Bull Story: (cinema) * 4.5/5 - aka this generation of british comedy takes the piss out of itself. It is of course really really funny. not as clever as it might think it is at times (although at times its right in the head) but it is really funny. an underused supported cast are fantastic (Dylan Moran in particular) and there are moments of genuine laugh out loudness, such as the incident with the chesnut, and the womb. and of course Brydon's alan partridge steals the show. March none :( April Inside Man* - Interesting take on the Heist movie. Not a classic, but a good way to spend a few hours 3.5/5 May 16 Blocks* - Sub-24 Bruce Willis movie with, a decidely sub-24 twist. Willis is however very good, and the movie keeps the attention long enough to be good and enjoyable 3/5Mission:Impossible 3* - Fan-fucking-Tastic. Theese are the moments i go to the cinema for. Edge of the seat, rollercoaster of emotions. film of the year so far for me. great performances from Cruise, Hoffman and Simon Pegg, who puts John Cleese's Q buffoning to shame. in fact this is what Die Another Day really should have been. 5/5Brick* - intersting Noir, set in a modern day high-school, it proves to be a very good idea, and gimmick for the film. despite its Darko-isms and posturing to want to be a film talked about on the internet (oooh what is whispered at the end zzzz) i actually really enjoyed it. Score one for the low budget movie. 4/5 June - None July Pirates of the Carribian : Dead Mans Chest - Not as good as the first one, but still a fun, if slightly overlong pirate romp. Think it was a bit unnessciary bringing all the cast together again, but still this is me nitpicking. Good fun 4/5Superman Returns - Singer has obviously been watching Nolan, as Reurns is paced very similarly to Batman Begins. Its not as good as Begins though, and seems to have been shot on half the budget, but its still a good enjoyable way to while a way a few hours. 4/5Superman Returns - Saw it again, but this time in IMAX 3D. Its the future kids. So Pretty. August Over The Hedge - Predictable, and largely siilar to Chicken Run, but laughs to be had 3/5Pirates of the Carribian Dead Mans Chest - watched again. enjoyed it more this time. still not as good as the first 4/5Snakes on a Plane - Its been watched! and it was bloody brilliant. Laugh out loud funny, silly, and sometimes jumpy, it had something Pirates and Supes seemed to forget- fun. (as well as Snakes on a Plane obviously!) 4.5/5The General - Got a chance to see Buster Keaton's masterful 1927 film, which stands as the best film of the silent era for me. Funny, with good romance, and brilliant action. He never topped it 5/5 September Crank - Insane, and very very fun action-ier. Great popcorn movie with no thought required but plenty of laughs and thrills. 4/5The Sentinel - Dissapointing thriller that never gets out of its first hour, and the entire polygraph thing is too flimsy. Redemption is found too easily as well. a wasted oppurtunity 2,5/5DOA: Dead or Alive - Knowingly awful and trashy, and the end half hour was terrible, but there are some good moments to be had 2/5An Inconvieninet Truth - Well presented and well laid out, and will become the film that is shown when global warming is disccused. Flawed but very good. 4/5 october Children of Men - Scarily realistic dystopian drama, with some wonderful performances, making this this years Constant Gardner. Well shot and well thought out. 4.5/5The Departed - The ending seems a bit thrown in for shock value, but there are some great performances and some peerless direction throughout. 4/5

JanuaryLawrence of Arabia (TV) - 4/5King Kong (2005) - 5/5 (one of the most enjoyable experiences at the cinema. So mush so I went to see it again)Cinderella Man (DVD) - 3/5

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